BLM Pinedale Issues Anticline Electrification Decision

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Field Office is issuing the finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and decision record (DR) for the proposed Anticline Electrification Phase I Project environmental assessment (EA).

The project’s Phase I construction consists of three parts:

Approximately 23.5 miles of 25 kilovolt (kV) distribution line on wood poles beginning just north of Paradise Road and proceeding south and east along the backbone of the Anticline towards Highway 191.

Approximately five miles of 69 kV transmission line from Highway 351 north to the Boulder South County Road 23-106 and a substation south of Highway 351 and west of the North Jonah Road.

A 10-mile reroute of the authorized Paradise 230 kV transmission line. Currently, this line is authorized to parallel Highway 191 to Highway 351 then follow Highway 351 to the Paradise Road. The transmission line reroute would go from Highway 191 west to the Falcon Compressor area and then north along the backbone of the Anticline to Highway 351 parallel to the above mentioned 25 kV distribution line.

Construction of the 25 kV distribution line is anticipated to begin immediately; the 69 kV and 230 kV transmission lines will be constructed as needed.

The power lines will provide electrical power to various Anticline oil and gas facilities and allow operators to convert from internal combustion generators and motors to electric energy to power equipment. This conversion to electric energy will reduce the amount of ozone forming chemicals that enter the local environment and improve air quality in the region.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public lands.